Seining Whitewater State Park

I've seen many activities for kids but the hands-on program using a seining net in a Whitewater State Park in Southeastern Minnesota had to be the best I've encountered -  even us adults enjoyed it.  These pictures also show what a relatively modest digital camera - my first one - could do in June of 2005.

A ranger and a volunteer waded out into the pond with a seine net, working the bottom to collect all manners of water critters.

Then the net was hauled in for an inspection of the catch.

The kids found a collection of minnows, tadpoles and insects.

The ranger gave several short shots of in information and answered the questions of the inquisitive children.

Some people afterwards went into the pond with smaller nets.  Someone even snagged a small snapping turtle as it drifted by.  We were all amazed at the diversity of life in the unprepossessing waters.